Bhubaneswar: Leader of the Opposition and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik has demanded immediate relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction measures for people affected by the recent floods in Ganjam district.
He has also called for accountability to be fixed for alleged negligence and lapses in the State Government’s handling of the flood situation.
In a letter to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on November 10, Patnaik highlighted the hardships faced by people in Hinjili, Sheragada, Asika and Sorada during his visit to the flood-affected areas on November 7. He said he had interacted with farmers, women, small traders and people from various sections of society who had suffered significant losses due to the floods.
Expressing concern over the scale of destruction, Patnaik said the floods had caused extensive damage to infrastructure, crops, livelihoods and property, besides claiming lives. He alleged that negligence and inadequate preparedness on the part of the State Government had worsened the situation and pushed the district back by several years.
Referring to the early warning issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on October 23, Patnaik questioned the government’s preparedness and the timing of water releases from dams. He alleged that instead of releasing adequate amounts of water before the heavy rainfall, the Water Resources Department opened the dam gates after intense cyclonic rainfall had begun, aggravating the flood situation.
He further said that people had complained about not receiving adequate warnings before the dam gates were opened. Describing the situation as a man-made crisis, Patnaik demanded strict action against those responsible for the alleged lapses.
The BJD president also criticised the government for its alleged failure to prepare for the floods despite advance weather warnings. He said the authorities should have anticipated heavy rainfall in Ganjam, given the district’s vulnerability to cyclonic weather conditions.
Patnaik also expressed concern over delays in rescue and relief operations, stating that several people had remained stranded for days without adequate food and drinking water. He alleged that timely government advisories about the intensity of the rainfall were also lacking.
During his visit, Patnaik said he had received several representations from affected people and forwarded them to the Special Relief Commissioner for immediate action.
Emphasising the need for rehabilitation, he urged the State Government to ensure timely compensation and reconstruction without discrimination. He also called for coordinated efforts to restore the livelihoods of farmers, women, youth, small traders and other affected residents.
Patnaik also referred to the community-based disaster management system developed during the previous BJD government, highlighting the role of Sarpanches, Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) members and Mission Shakti groups in disaster response. He alleged that the neglect of these institutions under the present BJP government had weakened the state’s disaster management framework.
Citing previous flood situations in Kendrapada, Jajpur, Bhadrak and Baleshwar, he said the repeated mishandling of natural disasters was causing serious hardship to people and hampering the state’s overall progress.
Concluding his letter, Patnaik urged the BJP-led State Government to take responsibility, identify the lapses and strengthen disaster management mechanisms. He warned that the BJD would raise the concerns of affected people at every possible platform, from villages to Delhi, if the government failed to provide adequate relief and rehabilitation.
